Posted on Jul 30, 2018
When doing the ROTC SMP program, do you have to commission into the same branch that you are drilling with?
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I am starting SMP GRFD scholarship and want to know that if the unit i pick to drill with during school will be the same one i commission into or do i commission somewhere completely different? thank you.
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Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP)
Army Reserve Elements
ROTC
Commission
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Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) Army Reserve Elements ROTC Commission Drill
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 13
No, SMP is simply a way to learn how unit’s operate on the reserve and national guard side. When I was SMP my recruiters made us drill with incoming privates.
MAJ (Join to see)
Weird, why didn't they just have you join a unit?
CPT (Join to see)
Because I went to a Military Junior College and they wanted us to recruit for the school as well.
The unit you're in now probably won't have a direct bearing on where you go later. The general operations you learn at that unit will still be a good part of your life long leadership lessons learned regardless. The one good thing it does is starts your credit toward retirement and service toward pay regardless of later component in which you're serving.
No, you don’t have to commission into the same branch as the unit you are conducting your SMP duty with. However, because you are a GRFD, you no longer can compete for active component.
MAJ (Join to see)
GRFD = Guaranteed Reserve Forces Duty, he's getting paid additional money to go in the reserves/guard.
Correct. I was SMP and drilled with a SAPPER unit and a Signal unit. It’s fairly easy to switch around as well once you are contracted because as an 09R you don’t really count on anyone’s roster so as long as the RNCO doesn’t mind doing the paperwork and the receiving unit wants you, it’s fairly quick.
Absolutely not. You choose your branches as your complete your MS3 and 4 years. Then you get your branch and unit. Sometime you can choose your unit with the guard but not always. My advise get a platoon leader slot not staff.
you get to pick your branch and unit. the only thing is they have to except you. I know some people have already picked their branch this year and received their BOLC dates. I am going active duty and still have not received my branch, post, or BOLC dates. I also commission in a month. army reserves and national guard is completely different from active duty.
CPT Lawrence Cable
In the Guard, you get to pick your branch IF there are vacancies available. I was never asked to pick a unit, they sent me to the closest unit with a vacancy in my Branch. If there were several vacancies about the same distance, they might let you chose or you can ask for a specific one, but that's still need of the National Guard. On the Reserve side, it works much the same way, just a bigger pond. You get to pick your branch if it's not overstrength, but they will assign you to the unit that needs that Branch, which may not be local. Active is different. You get your wish list, then the Army puts you where they want and while you also will get a wishlist for assignments, they will send you where they are short.
1LT (Join to see)
CPT Lawrence Cable I know the reserves and national guard get to pick which state they want. It also depends on the situation. Some smp cadets stayed with their unit.
CPT Lawrence Cable
1LT (Join to see) - Yes, in an ROTC program, the Cadet can choose the State of the National Guard unit, I don't know about the Reserves. In Kentucky, SMP Cadets that went Engineer sometimes came back to the Battalion, I don't recall ever getting one back that was SMP in my Company. But you don't have to be the same branch as the unit you are assigned as SMP, although it makes more sense to try and find one in your chosen branch, but sometimes it just isn't possible.
No, your SMP unit has no bearing on what you do as an officer. However, it can help you out. For instance, Aviation is a very competitive branch. If you are an SMP cadet in an aviation unit, it may give you a leg up on other cadets hoping to access into that. The same thing can apply for Military Intelligence. But you can look at completely different units as well.
No it shouldn’t be. Generally speaking the soldiers will never really see you as an officer if you were a cadet there. You should be looking around for a unit just before graduating
As others have said the answer is, no it won't. I did SMP with a Medical Support Unit and commissioned Engineer.
I was enlisted MP, then SMP'd with the same unit. However, I commissioned FA and went to a FA unit after graduating. I'm back to MP, but that was my choice for a position I wanted after making Captain. Good luck!
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